Ventilation shutter



2 lsheetsfsheet 1 H. MORRISON VENTILATION SHUTTER F I G. I

Sept. 18, 1951 Filed May 29, 1947 Sept. 18, 1951 H. MORRISON 2,558,355

VENTILATION SHUTTER Filed Mayzsa, 1947 2 sheets-sheet z al) me/MM HACKLEY MORRISON,

Patented Sept. 1`8 1951l UNITED STATES liinlilzlv'r orties Hackley Morrison, Houston, Tex., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Hackley Morrison, Jr.

Application May 29, 1947,' SerialNo. 751,166- (o1. .iis- 119) 11 claims.

v'Ihis invention relates to attic Ventilating equipment and more particularly to automatic shutter frames forming a part of such equipment.

In my prior copending. applications Serial Nos. 741,380 and 741,381, iiled April 14, 1947, I have shown Ventilating equipment including `such automatic shutters. The present invention relates specifically to improved details of construction of automatic shutters of the type illustrated in the above identified applications.

An object of the invention is to provide an automatic shutter having a frame formed of channel Amembers so constructed as to overlap the edges of the ceiling opening and constitute a trim.

Another object is to provide improved means for mounting and hinging the shutter doors onk lthe frame.

Still another object of the invention is to devise improved means formounting upon such. a frame the Yplates constituting the neck referred to in said prior copending applications.

With the above and lother objects in view, the

=invention consists in the construction and ar- Ythe line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows, the shutter doors being shown in dottedV lines in partially open position;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of Ythe arrows; and

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are fragmentary transverse sections similar to Fig. 3, but with parts omitted,

-1 showing several modified constructions which I may employ and which fall within the scope of vthe invention.

Referring tothe drawings in detail, I construct `my improved shutter frame of side and end channel members I and 2, these members being joined at; the corners and connected by means of gusset plates 3.,L spot welded to the channel members..

- IrrFigs. l to4 I have shown themembers I and `2. as in the form of what is= known commercially asv abox channel, that' is to say aY channel having at its' free edges inwardly extending iianges Ia.

-The rectangular frame thus constructed is re- -infoicedi at intervalsalong its length by cross barsl also shown as in the-formof box channels. --Inpractice itis usually satisfactory to construct v the main frame of vchannels 11/2 x 1/2 inches size and the cross bars l x 1/2 inches. Other dimensions may of course be used, if desired.

Carried by the side channel members I are: pairsof oppositely disposed Supporting blocks 5.. As shown in Figs 1 to 4 these blocks are provided at one side with a notch adapted to iit over theeolge of one of the inturned flanges ia. In this4 way the blocks extend partially down into the.- open side of the channel members.

Hinge rods 'I extend across the frame between the side members and have their ends received in openings in pairs of the supporting blocks 5. A shutter door El,A preferably of light sheet metal, such as aluminum, is secured at one edge. to each hinge rodl 'I the preferred method of securing be'- ing to roll the sheet-metal around the rod as indicated at 9.

In this connection itv may be pointed out that the shutter doors may be firmly securfedrtof` the rods I and the ends of the rods journalled in the blocks 5, or the rods may be set firmly in the blocks rand'the shutter doors loosely secured to vthe rods.

The end of each door 8 opposite the rod 'I is: bent upwardly at right angles as shown at lil in. Fig. 2, and these bent up ends of all of the doors are pivotally connected by means of a tie-bar I3.. rIhe metal at the edge of the bent up portion is. preferably rolled around a rod I2, as indicated at I I, and this rod passes freely through an opening in the tie-bar I3.

In. Fig. 3 a joist supporting the attic iieor and the ceiling B below is shown at A, and asset forth in my above mentioned .prior copending applications, it is desirable to provide a neck extending up through the opening in the ceiling and lying closely adjacent to the faces of these joists. In the present application, I have shown this neck formed of plates Ill and I5, the lower edges of which are secured to the outer face of the blocks 5 as by means of screws I6.

By reference to Fig. 3, it will beV particularly noted that the blocks 54 are located along Ythe middle of the side channel members I and are of less Width than these members, so that the channel members project laterally beyond the blocks on the inside and beyond the neck plates on the outside of the frame. The end members 2 also project laterally beyondY the neck plates. The shutter doors 3, when closed, rest upon those portions of the side members which project inwardly beyond the face of the blocks, while theA portions of these side members and' of the end members which project outwardly beyondthe faces ofthe 3 neck plates overlap the edges 'of the opening i'n the ceiling. Thus these frame members serve as a trim around such opening, and are secured to the ceiling by wood screws passing upwardly through the outwardly projecting portions into the joists A.

In Fig. 3, and some of the other gures where box channels are used, it is the inwardly directed anges Ia at the upper sides of such channels which support the shutter .doors on the one hand and engage the edge of the ceiling B on the other hand.

It will be observed that as the blocks 5 are firmly interlocked with the side channel members and the neck plates I4 are secured directly to the blocks, the construction provides a rigid unitary structure which is adapted to be prefabricated and then placed in position in the ceiling opening.

In Fig. 4, I have shown a slightly modied construction in which, while a box channel similar to that of Fig. 3 is employed, the lower edge of the neck plate I4' is turned outwardly as at I1 and secured to the nange of the box channel I as by means of screws I8.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a composite channel structure made up of a standard channel member I and a special liner I9, preferably formed of sheet metal and nested within the channel and spot welded thereto. This liner has an inwardly projecting ange adapted to engage the notch 6 of the supporting blocks 5. Such a composite channel is probably cheaper to produce than the special box channel shown in Figs. 1 to 4.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a box channel I" provided with an inwardly directed ange I a only at one side, that is to say on the inside of the frame. On the outside, the neck plate I4 is extended down past the block 5 to the bottom Aof the channel and is provided with a laterally projecting extension 2U spot welded to the bottom of the channel.

Finally, in Fig. 7 I have again shown the use of a standard channel I', and in this figure the block 5 is not provided with any notch. The L block rests upon the bottom of the channel and the lower edge of the neck plate I4' has an outturned portion 20, as in Fig. 6, resting upon and spot welded to the bottom of the channel.

It will be particularly noted that in Fig. '7 the block 5 does not extend the full width of the channel but is spaced from the inner flange thereof as shown at 2I. Thus in this gure, as in the other figures, there is provided a portion of the channel member at the inside of the frame, which .y

projects beyond the face of the blocks and which serves as a support on which the shutter .doors 8 rest when closed.

It will be observed that in all of the modifications, I employ a frame constructed of upwardly opening channel members, and that the blocks which support the hinge rods are firmly united with the channel members and with the plates forming the neck of the shutter frame, thus producing an exceptionally strong and rigid structure.

What I claim is:

l. A Ventilating shutter comprising a rectangular frame adapted to fit a ceiling opening and composed of upwardly opening channel members having side anges lying in parallel planes, neck plates in addition to said side flanges secured to said channel members and constructed to extend up inside of the ceiling opening, said neck plates 4 bers that the latter extend outwardly beyond said plates to constitute a trim overlapping the edges of the ceiling opening, supporting blocks carried by opposite channel members and extending at least partially down into the open side thereof, and shutter doors pivotally mounted on said supporting blocks and normally closing the opening embraced by said frame.

2. A Ventilating shuttercomprising a rectangular frame adapted to fit a ceiling opening and composed of upwardly opening channel members having side flanges lying in parallel planes, lneck plates in addition to said side anges secured to said channel members and constructed to extend up inside of the ceiling opening, said neck plates being disposed near the transverse middle of each of said channel members, so that the latter extend laterally both inwardly and outwardly of said plates, supporting blocks extending at least partially down into the upper open side of opposite channel members on the inside of said plates and shutter doors pivotally mounted on said supportingblccks and normally resting, when closed, on the inwardly extending portion of said channel members, that portion of said channel members extending outwardly beyond said plates overlapping the edges of the ceiling opening, whereby said channel members serve as a trim around said opening.

3. A Ventilating shutter comprising a rectangular frame adapted to fit a ceiling opening and composed of upwardly opening side and end channel members, pairs of oppositely disposed bearing blocks carried by and extending within the upper open side of said side channel members at points inside of said ceiling opening, hinge rods extending across said frame and having their ends journaled in said pairs of blocks, and shutter doors secured to said hinge rods.

4. A Ventilating shutter comprising a rectangular frame adapted to t a ceiling opening and composed of upwardly opening side and end channel members, pairs of oppositely disposed supporting blocks carriedby and extending within the upper open side of said side channel members at points inside of said ceiling opening, hinge rods extending between said side channel members and having their ends received in openings in said pairs of blocks, and shutter doors carried by said hinge rods. I

5. A Ventilating shutter comprising a rectangular frame adapted to t around a ceiling opening and composed of side and end members, said side members being in the form of upwardly opening box channels having on at least one side an inwardly directed flange, pairs of oppositely disposed supporting blocks carried by said box channels, each block having at one side a notch engaging the edge of said flange, means at the opposite side of said block for holding said` notch in engagement with said edge, hinge rods eX- tending between said box channels and having their ends received in openings in said pairs of blocks, and shutter doors carried by said hinge rods.

6. A Ventilating shutter comprising a rectangular frame adapted to t around a ceiling opening and composed of side and end members, said side members being in the form of upwardly opening box channels having on at least one side an inwardly directed flange, pairs of oppositely disposed supporting blocks carried by said box channels, each block having at one side a notch engaging the edge of said flange, means at lthe being so disposed relative to said channel mem 75 VOpposite side of said'block for holding Said 110mb side members being in the form of upwardly l `opening box channels having on at least one side an inwardly directed flange, pairs of oppositely disposed supporting blocks carried by said box channels, each block having at one side a notch engaging the edge of said flange, hinge rods extending between said box channels and having their ends received in openings in said pairs of blocks, shutter doors carried by said hinge rods, and neck plate extending around all four sides of said frame and rigidly united at the corners,

said neck plates being adapted to extend up into said ceiling opening, and the neck plates adjacent said side members being secured to the opposite side of said blocks.

8. A Ventilating shutter comprising a rectangui lar frame adapted to t a ceiling opening and composed of upwardly opening side and end channel members, pairs of oppositely disposed supporting blocks carried by and extending within the open side of said side channel members at points inside of said ceiling opening, hinge rods extending between said side channel members and having their ends received in openings in said pairs of blocks, and neck plates secured to and carried by said blocks and adapted to extend 1'1.

up into said ceiling opening.

9. A Ventilating shutter comprising a rectangular frame adapted to fit a ceiling opening and composed of upwardly opening side and end channel members, pairs of oppositely disposed supporting blocks carried by and extending within said side channel members, hinge rods extending between said side channel members and `having their ends received in openings in said pairs of blocks, and neck plates secured to said blocks and to the bottom of said channel members, and adapted to extend up into said ceiling opening.

l0. A Ventilating shutter comprising a rectangular frame adapted to t around a ceiling opening and composed of side and end members, said side members being in the form of upwardly opening box channels having on at least one side an inwardly directed ange, pairs of oppositely disposed supporting blocks carried by said box channels, each block having a notch engaging the edge of said ilange, hinge rods extending between said box channels and having their ends received in openings in said pairs of blocks, shutter doors carried by said hinge rods, and neck plates secured to said blocks and to the bottom of said channel members, and adapted to extend up into said ceiling opening.

11. A Ventilating shutter comprising a rectangular frame adapted to iit a ceiling opening and composed of upwardly opening side and end channel members, pairs of oppositely disposed supporting blocks carried by and extending within the open side of said side channel members at points inside Iof said ceiling opening, hinge rods extending between said side channel members and having their ends received in openings in said pairs of blocks, said blocks being of less width than said side channel members, whereby said members project inwardly of said frame beyond the face of said blocks, and shutter doors carried by said hinge rods and resting upon the said inwardly projecting portions of said channel members.

HACKLEY MORRISON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 848,803 Brady Apr. 2, 1907 1,601,100 Baker etfal. Sept. 28, 1926 1,871,161 Dickson Aug. 9, 1932 2,139,893 Heasley Dec. 13, 1938 2,140,935 Hart Dec. 20, 1938 2,299,833 Mader Oct. 27, 1942 2,337,863 Beeler Dec. 28, 1943 

